At Least 11 Dead, 26 Missing As Thousands Flee Torrential China Rains

SINODAILY

At Least 36 Dead, 42 Missing In Central China Rains

Chinese paramilitary rescue team struggle to set up a makeshift bridge, to evacuate villagers from the flooded village of Shaoshan, central China's Hunan province 01 June 2005. At least 11 people are dead and 26 are missing after mountain torrents flooded parts of central China, forcing the evacuation of up to 60,000 people, as the Hunan headquarters for flood control and drought relief, reported at least 24 cities and counties in the province were besieged by torrential rains from May 30 to June 1. AFP Photo

Beijing (AFP) Jun 01, 2005
Torrential rains and mountain torrents have left at least 36 people dead and 42 missing in central China, local officials said Thursday as rescuers worked to evacuate people and ferry in supplies.

So far around 100,000 people have been moved from the affected villages in mountain areas of Hunan province. At least 3,500 buildings have collapsed, injuring many who were sleeping inside, as the rainy season arrived with a vengeance.

"By 9 am this morning 36 have been found dead and 42 are missing. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated," State Civil Affairs Ministry official Fang Zhiyong told AFP.

"Local civil affairs departments have dispatched rice, clean water and other relief materials to affected people. The worst hit area is Xinshao county."

In Xinshao county, many were also injured by buildings that collapsed as the rushing streams of water hit. Medicine was desperately needed.

"Around 3,500 buildings collapsed in this county alone," Shen Guirong, director of the propaganda department in Xinshao district, told AFP.

"Telecommuncations, transportation and water supplies are not working. It will take time to restore them.

"We need medicine to treat those who are injured. They were hurt when the buildings collapsed. We don't know how many are injured, we are still gathering details."

At least 24 cities and counties in the province have been pounded by torrential rains since May 30. Xinhua news agency reported that more than two inches of rain had fallen on Hunan in the past 24 hours.

Taizhimiao village in Xinshao county is one of the worst hit and more than 400 villagers are still stranded there with bridges and roads all destroyed by floods, Xinhua reported.

The local government is trying to erect a temporary bridge to rescue the stranded villagers, Shen added. Two township officials have already died in the rescue work.

Thousands of people perish every year from floods, landslides and mudflows in China, with millions left homeless, but officials have warned this year could be worse than usual.

Last month Qin Dahe, a top official at the China Meteorological Administration, warned of an "apocalyptic" summer of severe drought and floods.

"China may face a grim situation from seasonal floods or drought this year with potential damage worse than that of last year," he said.

The China Daily, citing Qin, reported Thursday that two massive rain belts are predicted from the south along the Yangtze River to the north on the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River.

Minister of Water Resources Wang Shucheng urged local governments in flood-prone areas to get their anti-flood precautionary schemes ready and prepare for the worst.

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